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absenteeism
The employee journey begins before someone even applies for the job and can last decades. It includes all the moments that matter throughout the relationship with the organization, both professional and personal. Each milestone and interaction is an opportunity to create an exceptional employee experience.
Great things happen when people feel valued by the organization they serve and connected to the work they do. Employees report higher levels of job satisfaction and engagement. Employers see less turnover, increased productivity and a healthier bottom line. Everyone wins.
So, how do you create an empowering, engaging company culture that attracts and retains top talent? You start with a roadmap.
First impressions last. Your company’s brand, website, social media, and other external communication set the tone to attract employees from the onset. Job-seekers will do their research and make judgments about whether or not to apply for a position based on what they find!
Feelings of anticipation can run high on the first day at a new job. With an employee engagement platform, like Inspirus Connects, peers can warmly welcome a new hire and connect even in a remote work environment. Appoint someone to introduce the new hire to others and show them around. Set aside time to go over company policies, job expectations and goals on the first day.
A lot of information is shared on the first day, so make sure to set aside time for follow-ups and questions throughout the first couple of weeks. Have a consistent, structured training and orientation plan for all new employees to ensure no steps are missed. That plan should include goals to measure success over time.
Prioritize employees’ health and wellbeing with authentic support for all aspects of employee wellness: physical, mental and financial. Mental health days, employee assistance programs, tuition or student loan repayment plans, child-care support funds and professional development stipends are all great starts to supporting employees in different areas of life.
These first three months on the job are an important transition point when the new employee takes on assignments and starts to meet deliverables. Set up meetings to recognize wins, talk through roadblocks and go over any questions at the 30-, 60- and 90-day mark. Publicly celebrate these mini-milestones with a shout-out on your employee engagement platform.
Mentorship is one of the best ways to encourage growth and progression. An effective mentorship and training program should start as soon as the new employee is hired, be revisited during regular review processes and continue throughout the entire employment journey.
Genuine praise and authentic feedback come from fair, comprehensive evaluations. Schedule annual or quarterly reviews with clear goals and performance metrics, but also allow opportunities for regular informal feedback and recognition for accomplishments and goals achieved.
Using rewards, incentives and recognition are one of the best ways to continue stoking the performance culture and elevating employees. Celebrate the milestone moments of success and the team members’ contributions!
One in four Americans over the age of 12 have a mental or substance use disorder, according to McKinsey. Organizations that prioritize mental and emotional wellbeing in addition to physical and financial health see a more positive team culture, higher employee engagement and improved productivity.
As the employee’s journey progresses, participation in a mentorship program should grow, too. Give experienced employees opportunities to formally mentor others on the team while honing their own leadership skills.
Leaving an organization, either to retire or to move on to something else, can be an emotional end to the employee journey.
A positive exit experience, however, turns a former employee into a proud ambassador for the organization. It’s great for overall company culture. And, sometimes, it results in “boomerang employees” who leave and then return – the number of employees returning to a former workplace rose 4.5% in 2021, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Ready to take a deeper dive into engaging employees at all stages of their journey with your organization? Contact us to learn more about fostering belonging, building strong connections and creating an exceptional employee experience at all stages of the journey.
